The future of TV being trialled on the Gold Coast

Broadcast Australia, TX Australia and Free TV are pleased to announce that a further trial of a next generation broadcast technology, DVB-T2, commenced this week on the Gold Coast.

The trial builds upon trials conducted in Sydney earlier in the year to assess the performance of next generation DVB-T2 technology in the Australian environment. The trial will originate from the Gold Coast Translators owned and TX Australia managed transmission site located at Mount Tamborine on the Gold Coast. It will seek to replicate the characteristics measured and analysed in the Sydney trials and assess the service threshold in the target coverage area in extended SFN (single frequency network) mode, utilising the audio and visual content used in the Sydney trial provided by members of Free TV.

DVB-T2 is being considered as a technology to replace the current DVB-T standard for television which has been in operation since 2001. When combined with new compression technologies, DVB-T2 will have the potential to allow 4K TV reception with four times the picture quality of the current high definition standard.

This trial is a collaboration between Broadcast Australia, TX Australia and Free TV Australia. It is a prime example of the innovation and first-class engineering skills within the Australian broadcast industry.

TX Australia’s Executive Chairman, Paul Mullen said: “TX Australia is delighted to be working closing with Free TV and Broadcast Australia to trial this new technology originating from the premier transmission site on the Gold Coast at Mount Tamborine. It is vital that the Australian broadcast industry keeps abreast of new technologies and undertakes trials such as this to ensure the best quality content is available to the viewer. We would like to acknowledge GatesAir, Rohde & Schwarz, Enensys and Teamcast for providing loan equipment for this trial.

Broadcast Australia CEO Peter Lambourne said: “Terrestrial free to air television delivers its service to 99% of the population and over 20 million Australians tune into television every week. This trial is an important part of ensuring that when the time is right, the terrestrial television platform is ready for the next stage of its evolution and that it can deliver the best possible viewing experience.”

Free TV CEO Bridget Fair said: “Following our successful collaboration in trialling next generation television in Sydney in June, we are very pleased to be working with TX Australia and Broadcast Australia in further trials. These trials are important to ensure that all Australians will continue to have access to the free news, sport and entertainment programs that they rely on and love into the future.”

Further information:

The trial is not expected to impact existing television services. For any reception issues in relation to existing DTV services feedback can be provided via the TX Australia website using the form which can be accessed using the following here.

TX Australia is a joint venture company of the television networks, Seven, Nine and Ten providing managed digital transmission services to those networks as well as a variety of services to FM broadcasters and other DTV networks, telecommunications companies, internet service providers and emergency service providers. www.txaustralia.com.au relation to existing DTV services feedback can be provided via the TX Australia website using the form which can be accessed using the following here.

Gold Coast Translators is a subsidiary of TX Australia, with Northern Rivers Television (a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Cross Austereo) as a minority Shareholder.

Free TV Australia is an industry body which represents all of Australia’s commercial free-to-air television licensees. www.freetv.com.au

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